The U.S. government now pays as much in monthly debt interest as it does on defense and education combined

The U.S. government now pays as much each month in interest on the national debt as it spends on defense and education combined. Between October 2025 and March 2026, the Treasury paid $529 billion in interest—$88 billion per month—matching the $461 billion defense budget and $70 billion education outlay over the same period. That monthly debt service cost exceeds what the government allocates to two of its largest and most visible programs. The interest burden has grown, rising $33 billion from the same period last year, driven by a larger debt stock now exceeding $39 trillion and higher long-term interest rates. Short-term rate declines softened the increase slightly, but not enough to offset the trend. Despite a $223 billion rise in federal receipts, outlays have climbed too, leaving a $1.2 trillion deficit for the first half of the fiscal year. That pace implies more than $2 trillion in new borrowing by year-end. The Congressional Budget Office’s latest update underscores a structural shift: debt service is no longer a background cost but a central fiscal fact, now rivaling core national priorities in scale.